Herodian's Roman
History

Herodian
(late second, first half third century): Greek historian, author of a History
of the Roman Empire since the Death of Marcus Aurelius (table
of contents) in which he describes the reign of
Commodus (180-192), the Year of the Five Emperors (193), the age of the
Severan dynasty (211-235),
and the Year of the Six Emperors (238).

The translation was made by Edward C. Echols (Herodian of Antioch's History of
the Roman Empire, 1961 Berkeley and Los Angeles) and was
put online for the
first time by Roger Pearse (Tertullian.Org).
The version offered on these pages is hyperlinked and contains notes by
Jona Lendering.

4.3: Bad relations between Caracalla and Geta

[211]After completing this ceremony of
deification for their father, the youths returned to the palace. Open
hostility followed, as they nurtured their hatred and hatched their
plots. Each did everything in his power to eliminate his
brother and secure the empire for himself alone.

The
honored and respected men of the city held divided opinions. Each of
the youths privately solicited their support in secret letters, trying
to win them by lavish promises. The majority favored Geta, who showed
some evidence of a reasonable disposition, since he conducted himself
mildly and moderately toward those who visited him, and devoted his
time to the
more serious pursuits.

He
studied with men respected for their learning [1]
and exercised frequently
at the wrestling schools and the various gymnasia. Because he was kind
and courteous to his associates and had an excellent
reputation and good name, he won the friendship and good will of
most of the Romans.

By contrast, Caracalla
was harsh and savage in everything he did, scorning the pursuits
mentioned above, and pretending a devotion to the military and martial
life. Since he did everything in anger and used threats instead of
persuasion, his friends were bound to him by fear, not by affection.

As the brothers were now completely at odds in even the most trivial matters, their mother undertook to effect a reconciliation.

And at that time they
concluded that it was best to divide the empire, to avoid remaining in
Rome and continuing their intrigues. Summoning the advisers appointed
by their father, with their mother present too, they decided to
partition the empire: Caracalla to have all Europe, and Geta all the
lands lying opposite Europe, the region known as Asia.

For, they said, the
two continents were separated by the Propontic Gulf as if by divine
foresight. It was agreed that Caracalla establish his headquarters at
Byzantium, with Geta's at Chalcedon in Bithynia; the two stations, on
opposite sides of the straits, would guard each empire and prevent any
crossings at that point. They decided too that it was best that the
European senators remain in Rome, and those from the Asiatic regions
accompany Geta.

Julia Domna (Louvre)

For his capital city,
Geta said that either Antioch or Alexandria would be suitable, since,
in his opinion, neither city was much inferior in size to Rome. Of the
Southern provinces, the lands of the Moors, the Numidians, and the
adjacent Libyans were given to Caracalla, and the regions east of these
peoples were allotted to Geta.

While they were
engaged in cleaving the empire, all the rest kept their eyes fixed on
the ground, but Julia cried out: "Earth and sea, my children, you have
found a way to divide, and, as you say, the Propontic Gulf separates
the continents. But your mother, how would you parcel her? How am I,
unhappy, wretched - how am I to
be torn and ripped asunder for the pair of you? Kill me first, and
after you have claimed your share, let each one perform the funeral
rites for his portion. Thus would I, too, together with earth and sea,
be partitioned between you."

After saying this,
amid tears and lamentations, Julia stretched out her hands and,
clasping them both in her arms, tried to reconcile them. And with all
pitying her, the meeting adjourned and the project was abandoned. Each
youth returned to his half of the imperial palace.